The New York Equine Drug Testing Programs Director Dr. George
Maylin has confirmed the presence of a major doping threat to both human and
equine sport in two standardbred horses racing at Yonkers Raceway.
The New York horseracing lab is believed to be the first
laboratory, in either horse racing or the worldwide WADA network of human
testing labs, to screen for and confirm the presence of
IOX-2.
IOX-2 is both a blood and gene doping agent that is the type of
emerging small molecule synthetic doping agent that Dr. Maylin warned about at
last year’s ARCI annual conference in Arcadia, California.
Dr. Maylin, a member of the ARCI Scientific Advisory Group, has
stressed that the more serious threat to the integrity of the sport lies in
these types of doping agents rather than the misuse of therapeutic medications
which have commanded the majority of attention by racing industry organizations
and represent the majority of drug violations detected by racing
commissions. In human sport, athletes can receive permission to
compete with substances in their system that are banned in horse racing.
All RCI member jurisdictions have been put on notice of the
details of this development.
IOX-2 is an HIF stabilizer that can trigger EPO like effects as
well as overall stimulation of an athlete.
“The New York Gaming Commission and Dr. Maylin specifically,
should be commended for their work and focus on finding new and emerging
threats to clean sport. Dr. Maylin has worked long and hard
looking for these type of substances and his work will benefit all ARCI member
jurisdictions.
“Unfortunately IOX-2 is just one doping agent and we are not
naive to believe that others are not finding their way into professional
sport. Whether it be a racing lab or a WADA lab, we share a common
mission and can never let our guard down. Today, it’s IOX-2, tomorrow
it’s going to be something else,” said Ed Martin, ARCI President. “Horse
racing is blessed to have experts like Dr. Maylin in our regulatory network.”
Regulatory actions taken by the New York Gaming Commission are
posted online at https://rulings.gaming.ny.gov
